The annual March for Life in Washington on Thursday attracted well over tens of thousands of pro-life marchers who were supported by President Bush as he spoke to marchers from New Mexico by phone.

Bush not only noted that his administration will continue to support the pro-life effort since America has made “real progress toward building a culture of life” within the last three years but he also encouraged them to keep up the momentum.

“Continue with civility and respect to remind our fellow citizens that all life is sacred and worthy of protection. I know as you return to your communities you will redouble your efforts to change hearts and minds, one person at a time. And this is the way we will build a lasting culture of life, a compassionate society in which every child is born into a loving family and protected by law,” said Bush who signed a law of a ban on partial-birth abortion in November. He also told marchers about other pro-life measures such as a possible comprehensive ban on human cloning to prevent “reckless experiments” on human life.

Ever year since Jan.22 of 1973, when U.S. Supreme Court concluded the Roe v. Wade case by allowing the right to abort unborn babies, the march has taken place to advocate laws protecting against abortion.

Barrett Duke, vice president of public policy and research for the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, was amazed at the “energy of this great gathering of people” who were able to unite and fight against their mutual belief that abortion is wrong.

"After 31 years, Americans' burden to save the unborn from the gruesome practice of abortion has not waned. Despite desperate attempts at indoctrination by pro-abortion forces, most Americans still believe abortion is wrong. They showed up in Washington by the thousands, from all walks of life and every imaginable ethnic background, to demonstrate their common commitment to life for the unborn.

"Today's march showed, once again, that the commitment to end the abortion tragedy in this nation transcends practically every conceivable ethnic, religious and ideological barrier," he said.

This year’s marchers headed eastward on Constitution Avenue past the Capitol to the Supreme Court tailing a rally on the Ellipse between the Washington Monument and the White House.

Abortion-rights advocates have scheduled for a march in Washington on April 25.